The Ivory Coast striker, who has 12 months left on his current contract, has had a chequered time at Stamford Bridge.

He fell out of favour when ­Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari joined the club as manager a year ago.

But Drogba was revitalised when Guus Hiddink took over following Scolari’s sacking in February.

And Ancelotti appears to have ­realised the best way to keep the 31-year-old happy is to massage his ego.

The Chelsea boss said: “If a ­player has one, two or three years on a contract, it’s not my problem.

“But Drogba is a very important player for us and we want him to play for Chelsea.

“I think he’s irreplaceable, as no other striker in the world can do the same job.

“I’ve spoken with Drogba and know very well what he wants. I ­believe in Drogba and told him this. He told me he’s happy to stay.”

But the Chelsea future of ­Andriy Shevchenko does not look so bright.

The Ukraine striker was loaned out to Milan last season but he ­hardly featured under Ancelotti at the San Siro.

Shevchenko, 32, started only nine games, scoring just two goals.

The 2004 European Footballer of the Year sported dyed long blond hair when he played the second half of ­Ancelotti’s first game in charge of Chelsea, the 2-0 ­friendly defeat of Seattle Sounders on Saturday.

But he is expected to move on ­before the summer transfer ­window closes.

Ancelotti added: “I speak to Shevchenko every day and the ­situation is this – he’s with us until August 31 and then we take a ­decision together.

“I don’t know what will happen, as the club have not received any offers.”

Chelsea will also be looking to ­offload Peruvian striker Claudio Pizarro, 30.

He had a successful loan season at German club Werder Bremen, bagging 28 goals in 35 games, ­including 17 in the league to help his side into the Europa Cup.

Ancelotti did not rule out ­bringing in another forward, even though the club have seven on their books already.

“The market closes on August 31 – and if there’s an opportunity to buy a player to improve the quality of the team, then we can do it,” he said.